Warrant Officer receives top award for meritorious service

24/09/2013

Warrant officer 1 (Air Engineering Technician) Steven Cass, currently the Base Warrant Officer (BWO) for Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has been presented with the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) by the Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral David Steel CBE.

At a ceremony in Nelson’s cabin onboard HMS Victory at Portsmouth in front of his family the proud Cornishman from Porthleven, was delighted to be awarded the prestigious medal for, 'good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service, with conduct judged to be irreproachable'.

Steve joined the Royal Navy in 1986 as an Air Engineering Mechanic second class spending his early years with 820 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Culdrose and onboard HMS Ark Royal on operational service east of Suez.

He moves into a top slot later this month when he takes up the influential appointment as 'Warrant Officer of the Naval Service' (WONS) in Portsmouth; the highest position for any rating in the Royal Navy Service.

Steve’s most enjoyable job during his long naval career has been the BWO at RNAS Culdrose.

“Working closely with command and the trust bestowed on me makes, this a particularly rewarding and invigorating job. Playing a day by day part in the welfare, morale and discipline of an air station comprising 2000 military personnel is quite a challenge. It’s certainly kept me on my toes!

"It’s also a very important to ensure all our people are aware of what’s going on in the wider navy and that their thoughts and concerns are passed up the command chain.”

Steve continues.

“My mother brought me up to work hard and be diligent and I have been fortunate enough to have had some great role models throughout my career which has made me want to give 100% to what I do.

"I am extremely grateful to my family who have been amazing in supporting me whether I have been coming home every night or deployed for 6 months and this award would never have happened without them.”

Steve (47) went to school in Helston attending the comprehensive in the town between the ages of 11 – 17 before joining the Royal Navy. He is a keen pilot gig rower with county and world championship experience.

He also enjoys a variety of sports and exercising his energetic spaniel along the Cornish cliffs. Steve is married with three girls.

The Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) is awarded to Warrant Officers and non-commissioned rating from all three services with at least 20 years of service and holders of the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Awards of the medal require good, faithful, valuable and meritorious service with conduct judged to be irreproachable throughout.

To reinforce the special character of the MSM, limits are placed on the numbers issued annually in the naval service to no more than 49 for the Royal Navy and 3 in the Royal Marines.